Südsudan

The parties to the South Sudan Peace agreement on Thursday agreed on Cabinet portfolio balance, and will now be expected to name ministers and their deputies as the government gets down to work.

Positive developments in South Sudan have “moved the country further along the road to sustainable peace”, the top UN official there told Security Council members on Wednesday.

The formation of the transitional government in South Sudan could be unduly delayed following disagreements over portfolio balance between President Salva Kiir and first Vice President Riek Machar.

A senior South Sudanese official rejected criticism by the U.N. Human Rights Council that his country is a serious violator of human rights. … A report published last week by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan describes what it calls the widespread and pervasive sexual and gender-based violence in the country.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed on Saturday the establishment of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in South Sudan. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the UN chief commended the parties for the “significant achievement in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan”.

Rival leaders will form a unity government on Saturday, raising hopes the country can rebuild, and aid agencies can reach more of those in need.

South Sudan’s former rebel leader Riek Machar said he has agreed to form a unity government with President Salva Kiir following a meeting at state house on Thursday. “We had a meeting with the president on the outstanding issues. We have agreed to form the government on 22 Feb.”

Kiir said the country would now be divided among the original 10 states, plus three "administrative areas" of Pibor, Ruweng and Abyei.

With only20 days before to the February 22 deadline for the formation of a unity government, security arrangements in South Sudan appear to have gained momentum as former holdouts to the peace process are sending feelers for their inclusion in the government of national unity.